Australia: ‘Unauthorized’ Chopper Crashes Into Hotel, Pilot Dead

Early Monday morning in Cairns, Australia, a helicopter crashed into the roof of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel. The crash, which happened at around 01:50 local time, resulted in the death of the pilot and sparked a significant fire that led to the evacuation of hundreds of hotel guests.

The single occupant of the helicopter was pronounced dead at the scene. Two hotel guests, an elderly man and woman, were hospitalized in stable condition. Local media reports suggest that the helicopter may have been stolen, although this is yet to be confirmed. Nautilus Aviation, the helicopter’s owner, stated they would fully cooperate with Queensland authorities to investigate the “unauthorised use” of their aircraft.

Witnesses described the helicopter’s erratic behavior before the crash. Amanda Kay, a guest at the hotel, reported seeing the helicopter flying unusually low without lights in rainy conditions. “It turned around and hit the building,” she recounted, noting that the aircraft “blew up” upon impact.

Another witness described the helicopter’s speed and instability just before the collision, saying it was “going out of control.” Video footage captured the fiery aftermath of the crash, including two rotor blades that detached and landed on the esplanade and in the hotel pool.

Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman Caitlin Dennings noted that the crash was initially perceived as a bomb-like explosion, causing confusion and panic among hotel occupants. Alastair Salmon, a tourist from London, described hearing “a colossal ear-deafening bang” and mistaking a helicopter rotor blade for a lamppost before noticing the damage to the hotel.

Emergency services quickly responded, cordoning off streets around the hotel and declaring an emergency situation. Both Queensland Police and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau are investigating the crash’s circumstances. Cairns, known for its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef, remains a popular tourist destination despite this unfortunate incident.